根據世界衛生組織（WHO）的一份新報告，全球超過9成的兒童正在吸入污染空氣，危害他們的健康和發育。

無論是烹飪還是加熱燃料、城市交通還是工業排放，造成的空氣污染都會影響兒童的神經發育，損害他們的認知能力。世衛組織報告稱，空氣污染還可能引發哮喘和兒童期癌癥，加劇他們日后罹患慢性病的風險。僅2016年一年，估計有60萬兒童死于空氣污染。

“空氣污染正在毒害數百萬兒童，毀掉他們的生命。”世衛組織總干事譚德賽在聲明中說?！斑@是不可原諒的。每個孩子都應該能呼吸干凈的空氣，這樣他們才能健康成長，充分實現個人潛能?！?

報告稱，全球15歲以下兒童中有93%（18億）暴露在超過世衛組織指南標準的PM2.5（環境細顆粒物）中。

低收入國家的數字更觸目驚心。根據世衛組織的數據，低收入和中等收入國家5歲以下兒童中，98%都暴露在高于推薦水平的PM2.5濃度中，高收入國家的這一比例是52%。

世衛組織表示，相較成人，兒童更容易受到空氣污染的危害，因為他們的呼吸更急促，每次吸入的污染物更多，而他們的身體正在發育。此外，某些污染物在距離地面較低的高度濃度達到峰值，這恰恰是兒童的呼吸高度。

“空氣污染正在阻礙孩子們的大腦發育，以超出我們預想的方式影響他們的健康。但是，有很多方法可以直接減少危險污染物的排放，”世衛組織的主任瑪利亞·內拉博士在一份聲明中表示。

其中包括使用干凈的烹飪加熱燃料和技術。世衛組織還鼓勵減少使用化石燃料，優化城市廢物管理。世衛組織首屆全球空氣污染和健康大會于10月30日至11月1日在日內瓦總部召開，議題包括防止空氣污染的各類有效途徑。（財富中文網）

譯者：Agatha

More than 90% of children around the world breathe polluted air that can harm their health and development, according to a new report by the World Health Organization.

Air pollution—whether it’s from cooking and heating fuels, urban transportation, or industrial output—can affect a child’s neurodevelopment, hurting their cognitive ability. It can also lead to asthma, childhood cancer, and a greater risk for chronic diseases later in life, says the WHO report. In 2016, an estimated 600,000 children died as a result of air pollution.

“Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a statement. “This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfill their full potential.”

Globally, 93% of children under 15 years of age—1.8 billion children—are exposed to levels of PM2.5 (ambient fine particulate matter) above WHO guidelines, according to the report.

The numbers are worse in lower-income countries. According to WHO, 98% of all children under 5 in low- and middle-income countries are exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 than recommended, compared to 52% of children under 5 in high-income countries.

Children are more at risk from air pollution than adults due to the fact they breathe more rapidly, therefore absorbing more pollutants at a time when their bodies are still developing, WHO states. Additionally, some pollutants reach peak concentrations lower to the ground, where children are breathing.

“Air Pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected. But there are many straight-forward ways to reduce emissions of dangerous pollutants,” Dr. Maria Neira, a director at WHO, said in a statement.

This includes using clean cooking and heating fuels and technologies. WHO also supports the reduced use of fossil fuels and better municipal waste management. These and other methods of preventing air pollution was discussed at WHO’s first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, which held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.